[lifestyle ] Garden homes offer a low-maintenance lifestyle

[_Happy boy]

If you are planning to buy a home this year but don't want the responsibility of maintaining a large house and yard, you might want to consider a garden home. Garden homes can vary in square footage, but they are often one story and are built on much smaller lots than traditional single-family homes. These dwellings are sometimes called zero lot line homes, and they can be found in communities throughout San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Many retirees and empty nesters purchase garden homes when they're ready to downsize, but they appeal to buyers of all ages.

The Crest at Elm Creek is one of San Antonio's newest garden home communities. The builder, Tirol Homes, was founded by developers Alejandro and Mayte Tolentino. The gated subdivision is on Vance Jackson Road between Wurzbach Parkway and Huebner Road. Once completed, the community will consist of 18 custom garden homes.
REALTOR® David Kauffman with Keller Williams City View has been working with Tirol Homes since it broke ground on the site in 2018. Kauffman said garden homes were born out of the need for developers to use land more efficiently while at the same time fulfilling people's desire for what's referred to as a lock-and-leave lifestyle.A: There are a million definitions, but a garden home refers to a neighborhood where generally smaller homes with smaller lots are developed that meet a certain need for buyers. And that need includes a family who does not want a huge yard. They want a small lot; they generally want a little bit smaller home where they don't have nearly the yard maintenance. They likely have a homeowners' association that takes care of some of the details of living in that subdivision.

A: There are a million definitions, but a garden home refers to a neighborhood where generally smaller homes with smaller lots are developed that meet a certain need for buyers. And that need includes a family who does not want a huge yard. They want a small lot; they generally want a little bit smaller home where they don't have nearly the yard maintenance. They likely have a homeowners' association that takes care of some of the details of living in that subdivision.Q: Are garden homes common in San Antonio?

A: I would say they are very common because lots of people understand that a garden home is a life simplifying effort. It's a smaller lot; it's generally a smaller home. Garden homes have been built since the '70s. They certainly don't dominate the single-family home market, but you can find garden homes in many areas of the I-10 or 281 corridors. You can find them in lots of places.